How ‘Gravitational Lensing’ Made One Supernova into Four—‘Einstein Cross’

Medicine & Technology Mar 08, 2015

Nicknamed the “Einstein Cross” after the famous physicist who predicted the possibility of the phenomenon as a result of his theory of relativity more than a century ago, the formation was made possible by a strange occurrence known as gravitational lensing. When a galaxy or cluster is large enough, they can often bend light that passes through it. And when they are rather perfectly aligned with Earth, even small events too far to be seen can be magnified so that researchers are able to detect them.

What's Next for Dawn at the Dwarf Planet Ceres

Mar 07, 2015

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has completed its eight-year journey to the dwarf planet Ceres, but what lies ahead for the history making spacecraft while it orbits the planet that was never meant to be?

Mars Once Had More Water Than the Arctic Ocean

Mar 06, 2015

Scientists believe that the Red planet once had more water on its surface than is found today in Earth's Arctic Ocean. However, over time Mars has lost 87% of this water to space.

Dawn Spacecraft Arrives to Ceres—Hear What NASA Has to Say About the Mission

Mar 06, 2015

After more than seven years of drifting in space, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has finally achieved its primary mission of entering orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres. Becoming the first ever mission to achieve orbit around a dwarf planet, mission controllers with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory received confirmation this morning that the small orbiter had finally reached its destination.

Astronomers Discover Planet in Multiple Star System

Mar 05, 2015

Astronomers have discovered a new planet located in a system with three stars and another planet located in a system with not one, not two, not three, but four stars in the system.

Military Satellite Explodes in Space

Mar 04, 2015

An aging United States military weather satellite dubbed Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Flight 13 (DMSP-F13) exploded in orbit on February 3. The explosion occurred after the 20-year-old satellite experienced a sudden spike in temperature, producing at least 43 pieces of debris.

Short Circuit Leaves Curiosity with One Arm

Mar 04, 2015

NASA has announced that the Mars Curiosity Rover now just has one arm, due to a short circuit that happened while the rover was attempting to retrieve a sample.

Dawn’s Long Journey About to End By Entering Orbit of Ceres

Mar 04, 2015

As the week draws to a close, NASA's Dawn spacecraft will begin the final climax of its long journey as it enters orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest body in the Main Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Jupiter and Its Moons Set to Put on Astronomical Show

Mar 03, 2015

In February, Mars and Venus put on quite a show in the skies above. Determined not to be outdone, Jupiter, the fifth and largest planet in our solar system, will put on a show of its own along with its moons during the month of March.

SpaceX Launches Two New Electric Satellites

Mar 02, 2015

Sunday evening at 10:50 p.m., a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida carrying satellites for two different customers, Eutelsat and Asia Broadcast Satellite.

NASA Seeks to Improve GPS Communications with Study of Ionosphere

Mar 02, 2015

When you don't know how to get to where you are going, chances are you pull out a smartphone or other type of device with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to help guide you where you need to go. What you may not know is that the signals traveling between the GPS satellites and your devices can get distorted thanks to the Earth's upper atmosphere.

NASA Receives Proposals for More Solar System Exploration

Mar 01, 2015

NASA has received dozens of new proposals for robotic missions for launch in 2021 to explore different parts of the solar system. Scientists have submitted concepts for sending probes to the moon, asteroids, comets and other planets for a chance to win $450 million in federal funding for their mission.

Curiosity Mars Rover Seeks Answers in the Rocks of Pahrump Hills

Feb 28, 2015

Finding some interesting chemistry in the rocks of Mars, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover decided to investigate on Telegraph Peak earlier this week, boring into the Martian surface in search of answers. Though the rock powder poses new questions to the chemical composition of the planet, the car-sized Curiosity rover is far from reaching its final destination.

Methane Based Life Could Exist on Saturn’s Moon, Titan

Feb 28, 2015

In a new study published this week by researchers from Cornell University, the team of researchers has modeled a new methane-based life form that can metabolize and reproduce, similar to the oxygen-based life forms here on Earth. And more than that, the researchers say that these life forms could flourish in the harsh, cold environment of Saturn's moon, Titan. Titan's surface is filled with seas of liquid methane that researchers believe could harbor these methane-based cells.

Leonard Nimoy "Spock"—Best Moments And Quotes from the Legend

Feb 27, 2015

Leonard Nimoy, known to the world as Spock from the "Star Trek" series, passed away on Friday at the age of 83. To celebrate his life and his achievements in sharing his gifts of acting with the world, we take a look at some of the best quotes from Nimoy both as himself and as that lovable emotionless Vulcan serving aboard the Starship Enterprise.